50 AI Ideas You Really Need to Know

by Keith Mansfield

Master the AI ideas that shape our technology world today.In a series of 50 accessible essays, Keith Mansfield introduces and explains the essential concepts ideas and key thinkers of artificial intelligence, demystifying its implications and transformative potential on our ever-evolving world.From the earliest technological computerand The Imitation Game to deep fakes and self-driving cars, 50 AI Ideas You Really Need to Know is complete introduction to the most important AI concepts in history.

Genres: Artificial Intelligence

208 pages, Mass Market Paperback

Published January 7, 2025

Reviews

[Wspieraj Kulture · Rating 5 out of 5]

Recenzja: „AI. 50 idei, które powinieneś znać” – książka, którą warto mieć na półce tuż obok zdrowego rozsądku

Czy powinniśmy bać się sztucznej inteligencji? To pytanie coraz częściej pojawia się nie tylko w dyskusjach akademickich, ale i przy kuchennych stołach, na spotkaniach towarzyskich czy scrollując kolejne posty w mediach społecznościowych. I chociaż nie ma na nie jednej, łatwej odpowiedzi – to jedno jest pewne: nie możemy sobie pozwolić na ignorancję.

Właśnie dlatego książka Keitha Mansfielda „AI. 50 idei, które powinieneś znać” wydaje się dziś nie tylko ciekawa – ale wręcz potrzebna. Mansfield nie próbuje epatować futurystycznymi wizjami ani przerzucać się specjalistycznym żargonem. Zamiast tego proponuje klarowną, rzetelną i wyjątkowo przystępną opowieść o tym, czym właściwie jest sztuczna inteligencja, jak działa, skąd się wzięła i dokąd nas prowadzi.

Autor zwięźle, ale konkretnie wyjaśnia mechanizmy, które stoją za algorytmami, rozpoznawaniem twarzy, uczeniem maszynowym czy sieciami neuronowymi – bez niepotrzebnego upraszczania, ale i bez akademickiego zadęcia. Każda z 50 idei to osobny punkt wyjścia do refleksji – i świetna okazja, by uporządkować to, co już wiemy, albo właśnie nadrobić, czego jeszcze nie wiemy.

Mansfield trafia w moment, w którym potrzeba zrozumienia technologii staje się bardziej nagląca niż kiedykolwiek wcześniej. Świat nie zwolni, rozwój AI nie stanie się mniej dynamiczny – to my musimy przyspieszyć naszą zdolność do świadomego uczestniczenia w tym procesie. A ta książka robi dokładnie to: tłumaczy, oswaja i inspiruje do zadawania dalszych pytań.

To nie jest książka dla ekspertów. To książka dla każdego, kto czuje, że technologia przestaje być „gdzieś tam”, a zaczyna być tu – w naszej codzienności. I dlatego zasługuje na najwyższą ocenę.

Moja ocena: 5/5.
Rzeczowa, przystępna, aktualna. Jedna z tych pozycji, które nie straszą przyszłością – ale pozwalają ją zrozumieć.

[Vi · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF - It's a lot more about the history of computing and philosophical/ethical considerations about machines vs humans than what I expected based on the book description. It's entirely my failing, but I expected more of a focus on what AI could do potentially now or in the future.
Especially the turing machine/test comes up multiple times, so if you're interested in computing history this might be the book for you.

[Alison Park · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve read a few books in this series and have always found them really interesting and useful. This one felt as though it was slightly grasping around for the final few of the 50 chapters but on the whole a great introduction to all matters AI.

[Hanie Noor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Looking at this book:
Its an intro level book about AI ideas thats covered in 7 parts: the first computers, AI advances, philosophy & ethics, breakthroughs as AI accelerates, what happens now?, near future, and far future. Honestly, it delivers what it claims; theories, ideas, and key thinkers.
I personally like the structure, its like a collection of essays, best to be read while waiting etc. I always bring a book with me so this kind of short read works well.

My two cents:
Ive read this kind of books a lot. The intro level books about a certain topics and I’ll never gets tired of them. Why? Because of the accessible language as its written for non-specialists in layman terms to cater to the masses making it an approachable read. You can also understand the big picture overview, often times the history, key concepts, and applications.
Although Ive been reading this kind of intro level books about the same topic, I find the structure and context is different. Though logically thinking the input might overlap, but most of the time, it doesn’t lol. Maybe because it really does discuss on the surface instead of more elaborately. Historical context wise, some parts did overlap (its about the same topic, lets be real lol).
Cons; its just surface level depth, non skill building, and its prone to be outdated quickly.
Honestly, these kind of intro level books are best to be treated as springboard then follow up with mofe focused resources/books.

[João Vaz · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fine overview of the main historical developments in AI, starting with the advent of computers and tracing how the concept of AI has evolved over time. It includes some interesting chapters on the dangers and opportunities of AI, such as job displacement, disinformation, and the potential for enhancing our productivity by leveraging this powerful technology. A good book, though it sometimes feels like we’re being showered with unfamiliar terms, there being so many to keep track of, such as neural networks, generative AI, machine learning, deep learning, etc. Since some of these topics are introduced only superficially, there isn’t enough time to fully grasp and internalize them, which at times left me feeling like I was reading without fully following along. Nevertheless, a good introduction for those interested in delving deeper into any of the many concepts related to AI.

[Rhonda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maybe not quite the right title, or the right order of early chapters, but this is still a good introduction to AI - where it came from, what is about and where it is going. A quick read. My copy was printed on cheap paper and I found the boxes of thin grey text on grey shaded background hard to read.

[Ricardo Cruz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Esta obra foca-se muito na história da computação e na história da inteligência artificial, chegando ao momento presente e focando-se em aspetos cruciais como a interação entre o ser humano e os LLM e projetando-se para o futuro, sobre os dilemas acerca dos quais a humanidade se terá de debruçar quando a IA atingir um grau de desenvolvimento superior.